Analytical Scientist

The MicroByre team makes pets out of bacteria. The vast majority of prokaryotes on the planet are not currently considered cultivable, let alone genetically modifiable. MicroByre domesticates and then genetically engineers otherwise reluctant, recalcitrant, and rebellious bacteria. We get them to eat out of our hands.

With friends like these, who needs petroleum? Newly cooperative bacteria will help us replace ancient biomass (petrochemicals) with renewable biomass (lawn clippings) efficiently and economically.

This is not the synthetic biology you’ve read about. We do not design genetic circuits in yeast or E. coli. We engineer naturally cool but standoffish bacteria to be cooperative, and thus even cooler.

As a Team Member
You will loot the uncharted prokaryotic chemical space. Even the bacteria that are widely known are largely unexamined. Their potential is not fully known, let alone leveraged. You will be on the frontier of MicroByre’s domestication efforts as you discover what profitable tricks wild bacteria are capable of. No one on the planet will have ever observed the bacteria you will see. You will feed them, watch them produce something amazing, feed them something different, and then kill them to see if they produced something but were holding back on you. You will become a biochemical pirate.

Responsibilities:

• Develop novel GC-MS workflows for targeted metabolite analysis in various biological matrices
• Conceive sample extraction and analysis protocols for gas chromatography
• Utilize high throughput liquid-handling robots
• Map and predict biochemical pathways in novel bacteria
• Work closely with molecular biologists to alter biochemical pathways in production bacteria
• Onboard and troubleshoot new analytical methods for microbial characterization
• Execute and update routine liquid and gas chromatographic assays for microbial engineering efforts
• Maintenance of analytical instrumentation and related facilities
• Troubleshoot experiments and processes in an interdisciplinary team
• Contribute to a proprietary bioinformatics knowledgebase

Required qualifications:

• Ph.D. in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, or related field
• Postdoctoral or industrial experience (2+ years) in biochemistry, bioengineering, or a related field
• Deep experience with GC-MS method development and optimization, sample preparation, and troubleshooting
• Experience using high throughput liquid-handling robots
• Experience adhering to best practices for collaborative laboratory inventory and record keeping
• Ability to work in small interdisciplinary teams
• Ability to work independently and then bring others up to practicable speed
• Exquisite attention to detail, accuracy, and sterility
• Strong organizational skills paired with operational flexibility
• Clear communication, both written and oral, and strong interpersonal skills
• Good general computer skills
• Ability to train, correct, and learn from peers
• A willingness to learn very basic programming skills

Also helpful:

• Any experience whatsoever with programming in any language
• An affection for niche robots and the software developers that train them
• A willingness to use bleeding-edge laboratory software and provide realtime feedback
• Experience with LC or LC-MS
• Experience with microbial growth and knowledge of basic microbial metabolism
• Experience working with non-model organisms
• Knowledge or experience of downstream processing and commercial process engineering

The salary range for this position is $100,000-$130,000 + equity

As an Employer

MicroByre is a biotech startup in the Berkeley/Oakland Bay Area. We recently closed a round of funding and have been growing fast!

We try to offer competitive benefits:

• Three weeks paid vacation each year
• Every federal holiday is a paid holiday
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance and disability coverage
• 401(k) program with 3% employer match

We try to offer a professional and intellectually stimulating work environment with plenty of opportunities to train up.

We take a lesson from the diversity evident from the study of ecology: it takes a lot of different kinds of skills working together with mutual respect to make a dent in the world. We are committed to maintaining a work environment free of harassment and discrimination. All recruitment, salary, & promotion decisions are based on business need, qualification, and job requirements with no regard to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, family or parental status, veteran or disability status, religion or belief, or age. MicroByre is not sponsoring work visas or reimbursing relocation expenses for this position.